Event coincided with local auto-industry press conferences which took place during State Fair of Texas media day.

Texas Auto Writers Association announced the winners of their annual Excellence in Craft Competition today during a luncheon presentation held at the Music Hall at Fair Park. The event coincided with local auto-industry press conferences which took place during a pre-opening media day for the State Fair of Texas.

The esteemed panel of judges which evaluated the submitted entries included four-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Hugh Aynesworth, award-winning journalist and author Carlton Stowers, radio host and event producer Jim White, graphic artist and journalist Stan Hulen, and local photographer Christian Waits. After years of dedicated service, the program's longtime chairman Durhl Caussey has now turned over the reins to Tim Spell who will manage the contest going forward.

Striving to promote accuracy and quality in the automotive journalism field, TAWA provides a quality forum which offers opportunities for active members to develop and showcase their skills. The writing contest consists of several categories including newspaper, magazine, radio, radio, website, and photography. With the proliferation of various digital formatting options, the online category was particularly competitive this year; and a milestone was reached as Sherri Tilley was the first person in the history of the contest to win first-place awards in each of two separate categories (internet and photography).

Congratulations to the finalists and winners of the 2016 Texas Auto Writers Association Excellence in Craft Competition.